We Put Walmart’s Low-Cost Backpacking Gear to the Test

Too bad the buyer at Walmart has gone to sleep on quality control on this product. And every time you move your feet you get to hear the crinkle of the fabric on the bottom. A wider and longer sleeping bag with the hood of a mummy bag and the roominess of a square-bottom bag. The Ozark Trail Mummy sleeping bag is a bulky, heavy sleeping bag that does not boast any of the bells and whistles of it’s more expensive counterparts. Once unrolled, it looked spacious and roomy, and the inner liner felt soft. We decided to trial it both in and out of the tent as the weather looked lovely and warm over the weekend.

So let’s take a closer look and discover if this sleeping bag will become part of your outdoor gear collection. A budget, supermarket sleeping bag that lacks the essentials to make it a camping favourite. Stay cozy even on the coldest nights of your camping or hiking trips with the Everest Mummy Sleeping Bag, +5F/-15C Degree. Find the best sleeping bag/pad for your next outdoor adventure using our independent reviews and ratings.

Instead, they will probably be happiest settling for the Bishop Pass and using the substantial money they save to upgrade other components of their overnight kit. Likewise, the REI Co-op Trailmade 20 is budget-friendly and comfortable, though it doesn’t pack down as small as the Bishop. As is common, there are some tradeoffs with budget products. The Brazos isn’t as comfortable or as high-quality as the premium sleeping bags. It’s also got a smaller fit, so it won’t be the right choice for those who are tall or broad-shouldered.

Despite this advantage of synthetic insulation, most serious backcountry travelers still prefer down over synthetic bags for most applications. The weight savings and differences in packed size are just that significant. But synthetic sleeping bags continue to be popular due to their lower cost. Broadly speaking, we recommend beginners and occasional backpackers choose a synthetic sleeping bag, while more devoted outdoor people splurge for a down model. You can find a more thorough discussion of our favorite down models in our best backpacking sleeping bag review.

The primary consideration should be finding a bag that matches your warmth, size, and budget requirements. Backpacking sleeping bags are generally designed with a hood and a tapered sarcophagus shape that minimizes materials while maximizing thermal efficiency. Keep in mind, however, that the tapered shape of a mummy bag reduces the space for your legs, so some folks may find them uncomfortable. More careful research is also a good idea when you’re shopping for a backpacking sleeping bag because these models can be fairly expensive.

However, I used this bag two nights last weekend and found it was too cold on its own—lowest temp was 51 degrees each of those nights. I was in a large tent (admittedly, a smaller tent would have been better) with one other person. I used ozark trail sleeping bag this bag from February of 2002 to June of 2002 on the Appalachian Trail, and I still have it.

Trailspace’s community of gear reviewers has field-tested and rated the top warm weather synthetic sleeping bags. A sleeping bag’s weight and packed size should be major considerations for any type of human-powered overnight trip. An extra pound or two might not seem like a lot, but that weight can become significant on an extended backcountry sojourn. Larger packed size can also be an issue because it increases the size of your backpack, which can end up placing the weight you’re carrying farther from your center of gravity. Keep these realities in mind when searching for the right sleeping bag. Although synthetic fibers are cheaper to produce than down, they have not yet been able to achieve the same warmth for an equal weight of material.

This is definitely a budget bag, but sometimes, that’s exactly what you need. If you are outfitting an entire household for your first family ozark trail canopy camp trip and just want something to get everyone out the door, then the Brazos is a great option to consider. We think it would also be a good choice for backyard campers or for use in an RV or camper where you don’t need as much protection. When it comes to classic sleeping bags, the Alps OutdoorZ Redwood is a step above the rest.